Question:

In San Francisco, some years back, a woman was arrested because she had a live hand grenade in her purse. There was a fishing line leading from her belt to the pin, so that if someone snatched her purse, it would shortly explode, killing the purse snatcher. While I do not feel too bad about the purse snatcher, as the police pointed out, there might be considerable carnage among innocent bystanders. I don’t remember what the legal outcome of the case was, probably an "illegal possession" charge. Boyd — "The cure for boredom is curiosity. There is no cure for curiosity." (Ellen Parr- author) – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Just to support an earlier statement… see men leave the privates alone…… Mike A Purse-Snatcher’s Worse Nightmare? ROME (Reuters) – Being caught and surrounded by an entire rugby team may just be one of a purse-snatcher’s worst nightmares. And yet, it happened for real to a man who snatched a woman’s purse in the northern Italian city of Bologna. The snatching happened close to a hotel where Serie A teams Benetton Treviso and Fly Flot Cavisano were about to hold a news conference. The pickpocket was spotted by two Benetton team members who ran after him, Italy’s Rugby Federation said in a statement. The two — Andrea Gritti and Massimiliano Perziano — are both full internationals. Lock forward Gritti is two meters tall and weighs an imposing 107 kg while winger Perziano is one of the quickest players in the country. The purse-snatcher, followed by the two players, sought refuge in a kindergarten, which was quickly surrounded by the whole Benetton team. The man was arrested a few minutes later by police. Benetton Treviso and Fly Flot Cavisano are due to play the decisive game for the Serie A championship title on Saturday. All opinions expressed are mine unless otherwise noted. Copyright

Question:

Hi Possibly head down to the everglages for a few days. Trying to plan ahead for the hols. hope to hear from someone soon. Neil

Bad idea, mosquito city. go to the west coast orthe keys. Capt. Gary S. Colecchio West Palm Beach "The only people who have any business fishing are  young boys and married men. Everyone else should be  out getting laid." …I said that

Response:

"The only people who have any business fishing are  young boys and married men. Everyone else should be  out getting laid." …I said that

You’ve not met our beloved barrister from Rowan County. A man of many talents he can, and has, combined business, fishing, being married AND getting laid. Or… he used to could. — Ken Fortenberry

Response:

Head over to the Oak Hill area. Go by way of Merritt Island. Go to Titusville, across the causeway left to Haul Over Canal and just pick a spot somewhere on the route. Check a map of the area, you’ll see. John Popp in grass dead Sanford Fl

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Hi Anyone know of any fly fishing areas around Orlando,  Possibly Head down to the everglages for a few days. Trying to plan ahead for the hols. hope to hear from someone soon. Neil * Sent from RemarQ http://www.remarq.com The Internet’s Discussion Network * The fastest and easiest way to search and participate in Usenet – Free! Check with Rick at The Fly Fisherman on Orange Ave. in Orlando. HTH, R

Response:

Hi Anyone know of any fly fishing areas around Orlando,  Possibly Head down to the everglages for a few days. Trying to plan ahead for the hols. hope to hear from someone soon. Neil * Sent from RemarQ http://www.remarq.com The Internet’s Discussion Network * The fastest and easiest way to search and participate in Usenet – Free!

Check with Rick at The Fly Fisherman on Orange Ave. in Orlando. HTH, R

Response:

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – "The only people who have any business fishing are  young boys and married men. Everyone else should be  out getting laid." …I said that You’ve not met our beloved barrister from Rowan County. A man of many talents he can, and has, combined business, fishing, being married AND getting laid. Or… he used to could. — Ken Fortenberry

        um, well, of course, all such activities involved the same lady, of course, like when we go on family trips to the smokys and i have to call the office.         ken, will you give me a call tomorrow, please? wayno

Response:

Head over to the Oak Hill area. Go by way of Merritt Island. Go to Titusville, across the causeway left to Haul Over Canal and just pick a spot somewhere on the route. Check a map of the area, you’ll see. John Popp in grass dead Sanford Fl

They also have a location in Titusville, FWIW, but I’ve never been there.  I suspect Rick and the guys there know pretty much the whole area, however. R PS  John, Was over on Cedar Key last week and things where decent over there, plus it’s still cool (-ish, better than Orlando area, anyway), the rates at the inns are low this time of year and the crowds are light – us and a flyfishing! Virginia couple in a big trailered Whaler at the hotel marina.  Even got some of the last Stone claws at Charlie’s in Crystal River – yeee-uuumm!!  Kinda sorry to be back in Texas and hot as hell….<G. TC, R – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Hi Anyone know of any fly fishing areas around Orlando,  Possibly Head down to the everglages for a few days. Trying to plan ahead for the hols. hope to hear from someone soon. Neil * Sent from RemarQ http://www.remarq.com The Internet’s Discussion Network * The fastest and easiest way to search and participate in Usenet – Free! Check with Rick at The Fly Fisherman on Orange Ave. in Orlando. HTH, R

Response:

Hi Anyone know of any fly fishing areas around Orlando,  Possibly Head down to the everglages for a few days. Trying to plan ahead for the hols. hope to hear from someone soon. Neil * Sent from RemarQ http://www.remarq.com The Internet’s Discussion Network * The fastest and easiest way to search and participate in Usenet – Free!

Response:

Question:

Wayne Knight: (envious story snipped) Oh yea, I’ve still never been stumped in MO

Here we are sittin’ out a snow storm and you’re fishing!  ’Tain’t fair.  It was a good day, Wayne, just to be out there. Dave L.

Response:

Ok, Forty you asked for it….

Thanks, big guy. Always nice to read of a friends fishin’ trip while stuck up here in the snow. — Ken Fortenberry

Response:

Ok, Forty you asked for it…. Thanks, big guy. Always nice to read of a friends fishin’ trip while stuck up here in the snow.

FWIW, they are calling for snow here tonight and tomorrow. Sure hope it does not impede my flight home to Geneva on Friday. Hopefully tho, my daughter will have the driveway and sidewalks shoveled for me by the time I do get home. — Wayne Knight Expert in creating tailing loops and windknots Otherwise Fishless in Kansas Before you buy.

Response:

[trip snip] Thank you Kerry for a great time, and if any of you out there ever decide to visit SW Missouri for a little fishing, be sure and drop Kerry an email. Oh yea, I’ve still never been stumped in MO — Wayne Knight Expert in creating tailing loops and windknots Otherwise Fishless in Kansas Before you buy.

Y’know that’s really cruel to post such a report to the snowbound.  :)

Response:

Ok, Forty you asked for it…. I drove out of Kansas to Aurora Mo this past weekend where I met up with Kerry Evans, a contributor to the board, and a long time resident of SW Missouri. Crane is a creek I’ve been hearing about for about a year and wanted to try, plus it is about the closest real trout water to Halstead KS, being only 260 miles away, and whatever it’s faults as a fishing destination, eastern Kansas has some damn good roads <g. All things being equal, I would have prefered to let the weather change a little more but not having seen a trout since October I was going through withdrawal symptons. After meeting for breakfast, I followed Kerry to the creek. Yup the water is low, reeeeeeeeeeeeeeeelly low, and it was is gin clear. The only other time I’ve seen water this clear has been in WI spring creeks in the fall, never in the winter. Kerry did his best to put me over fish, even though the water was low, there were enough deep pools to support fish. Funny thing with a couple of exceptions we would fish the pools and see nothing and then cross the stream in 6" water and see fish scattering away from us…..There was this one pool which we saw several fish, but just could not get them to take our offerings. We did find some rising fish and we did our best to put them down Being winter, while there was some insect activity on the surface, the bugs were small. A size 20 Griffith’s Gnat might as well been a #10 Green Drake, these bugs were that small. Yours truly at the start was casting, if you want to call it that, as if I was just learning what a fly rod was having forgot my backcast, drink, forward cast routine…..and I probably had a false since of security, it being winter and all was not being too careful with the brush around the stream. I admit, I was cocky, I had never been stumped in Missouri before and really did not want to stealth my overweight out of shape self. Kerry was great, he is a fine fly fisher, a super guy, and to boot, he builds a rather nice rod too. But as sometimes happen, he too could not connect fly with fish. Finally, about halfway down the section we were fishing, we came upon a pool with two risers, Kerry being the gracious host he was, offered the pool to me. I figured screw it on the small stuff and tied on a favorite Michigan pattern, a size 14 parachute Robert’s Drake figuring that maybe the bow’s wanted a real meal for a change. After deteriming the first riser was a little one, I did my best Fortenberry imitation and slid along the pool side and side armed cast the drake under a tree branch to the other riser…..I was rewarded with a healthy bow which turned out to be the only fish of the day. Though the fishing was tough, and frankly had we been a little more careful, we might have been better rewarded, but we only saw one other fisherman and last we checked, he had not been successful. The creek needs some water but I will be back and will be better prepared next time. I bet in spring and fall colors the stream scenery is just dynamite. And Kerry told me about some other streams which have not been written about, they will stay a secret but I will be visiting them too! Thank you Kerry for a great time, and if any of you out there ever decide to visit SW Missouri for a little fishing, be sure and drop Kerry an email. Oh yea, I’ve still never been stumped in MO — Wayne Knight Expert in creating tailing loops and windknots Otherwise Fishless in Kansas Before you buy.

Response:

Question:

Hi, I’m a relative new comer to both fly fishing and Florida.  Having said that, I’ve fished the no motor zone at Cape Canaveral twice in the last few days and only caught a few small spotted sea trout. Anyone having any better luck?  Is it me, the screwy weather or a combination? Mind you, I’m not really complaining.  You know what they say about a bad day fishing…. David

Response:

See Action Spotter in January Florida Sportsman.  Somebody’s been catching fish on flyrod there recently.   Good Luck.

Response:

Hi, I’m a relative new comer to both fly fishing and Florida.  Having said that, I’ve fished the no motor zone at Cape Canaveral twice in the last few days and only caught a few small spotted sea trout. Anyone having any better luck?  Is it me, the screwy weather or a combination? Mind you, I’m not really complaining.  You know what they say about a bad day fishing…. David

   Been off the water a bit but the same goes for fresh water. I got out this last week a couple of hrs. Weather was cool so the gators has took to the mud, all I caught were about a dozen bity bream and 1 decent war mouth. Seems it’s kinda off on the east central but I understand the gulf is hot.                                                              John Popp                                                           in Sanford Fl.

Response:

Well, I can only tell you of my experiences over on the west coast, but the fish (Snook, Redfish & Trout) are not in their usual Fall/Winter haunts. Since it is not spring and the Gulf waters here are warmer than they should be, the fish are still on the flats, hungry as ever, but they seem scattered as opposed to the same weather/water conditions in the late spring/summer. I’ve had to cover a lot of water to find them. Good Luck — Tight Lines.

Response:

Question:

Has anyone done any bonefishing in Roatan?  Are there guides available? Thanks in advance. Ken

Response:

I’ve been to Roatan but not fished there Jack Sampson in the book "Salt Water Fly Fishing" talks about flyfishing for permit, bill fish  and jack crevalle near there at Guanaja- a ferry ride away. I saw places that looked like they would have to have bonefish but didn’t have a fly rod along. herb

Response:

Question:

<Snip  You may want to underline it by one size.  In any case, try some lines on it and see what works best for you in the way of line weight…as the rod will probably throw several line sizes…but with a different action etc. Barry

I would concur with this idea.  In fact, I did just that on my South Bend mod. 59.   The rod’s rated for a 6 weight, but I use a DT5 on it and it casts great.   The rod has a stout "bass action", but I can cast dry flies with noticeably greater speed, pinpoint accuracy, and the delicacy of a two weight.   IOW:  Try it! Good luck… Homey

Response:

<snip Wes Jordan (of Orvis fame) was the master rod builder at South Bend when your rod was probably made.  He started there in 1926.  The Model Number 47 describes the rods action.  In this case, a stiff or Bass Action.   100 series rod were light action, 300 series rods were considered Dry Fly action.

<snip again Al Manchester NH Still fishing a South Bend 359

Hi Al, If the numbers indicate the action, where does the model 59 fit in to this scheme? Just wondering… Homey

Response:

If the numbers indicate the action, where does the model 59 fit in to this

scheme? Just wondering…<BR Hi Homey South Bend made most if not all of thier rods in thee actions. Bass Action model numbers with   *xx* Wet fly or Trout  modle numbers with   *1xx* Dry Fly Action modle numbers with *3xx* This is for the three piece rods. The rods all had the same hardware and wraps, only the taper was different. So a modle 59 would be a fast action rod, a 159 would be a slow or wet fly action rod, and a 359 would be a dry fly action rod – medium to fast. The modle 59’s were made, depending again on the handle and sticker sometime after 1936 and originaly sold for $5.00 to $9.35. If the rod has a grip that has distinct lines in it, and a thumb rest, called by South Bend a Comficient Grip ( comfortable and efficient ) it was made after 1939, which is when South Bend first started using these grips.  The reel seet will also give a clue as to the rods age. You can pick these rods up pretty cheep, around $125 to $150 and they are ok casting tools and good old everyday rods.  I have an 8 1/2 ft  359 that I have completely redone with modern hardware.  It is a fun nymphing rod.  Although it is a bit heavy.  There isn’t much collector interest in Sout Bend rods it seams becasue they were mass produced, made on milling machines and the sections came from different culms of bamboo.   But so were many other companies rods.  Some big names too that just might shock some people.  It is interesting to read in Wes Jordan – Profile of a Rod Maker, his attention to detail and quality when he was at South Bend.  My personal opinion is that these rods are somewhat undervalued and one day just might get some recognition.  This is in part becasue Wes Jordan always worked for a company, and never produced rods under his own name, so the lack of recognition follows..  For right now, if you want to have some fun fishing cane for a not a lot of money, a South Bend rod just might be the ticket.  You can fish them as is, or, if they are in need of some work, replace the hardware with modern stuff and have a decent cane rod.  The ferrules are the keys, make sure you have a good fit and that they are tight to the cane.  My 359 throws a DT 5 very nicely, mends well, and if I fall down and brake it, well, it’s not a Leonard or a Payne.   Mike Sinclairs book, Bamboo Rod Restoration has a chaper in it in South Bend rods, and has some good advice for those wishing to refinish or even resore an old rod.  For $25.00 it is not a bad refference to have around. Well, see, you asked a simple question and got me started )  Hope this helps. Al

Response:

Some years ago I acquired a South Bend No. 47 split cane rod. It is a nine feet long, three piece rod in a cotton rod bag, and marked in the ‘old’ line ratings as suitable for HCH.C or GBF lines. It came with(and still has) a spare top section. I was hoping someone might be able to give me a little history of the rod, in particular over what time was it made, and what would be its equivalent modern line ratings. The present management of South Bend was unable to help. The rod was previously owned by a well known Australian fisherman and tackle dealer named Hank Newman, now dead for some years. Thanks Peter Barda

Response:

(snip) I was hoping someone might be able to give me a little history of the rod, in particular over what time was it made, and what would be its equivalent modern line ratings. The present management of South Bend was unable to help. The rod was previously owned by a well known Australian fisherman and tackle dealer named Hank Newman, now dead for some years. Thanks Peter Barda

Which model of rod is this?  I believe South Bend made several models/price ranges/quality etc.  Also…if memory serves me correctly, the line size that you mentioned is about an eight weight.  The HCH signified a double taper line and the GBF a weight forward.  This was back when they marked line by diameter….and not just weight.  Today’s lines are categorized by weight….as you know.  By the way, my first fly rod was a South Bend rod that my dad gave to me.  I wish I still had it. One other comment on line sizes for old bamboo rods….  Back in the "good old days", we accepted a slower action than is now standard in most rods. Consequently, you may find that the recommended line size is too heavy for your casting style on the South Bend rod.  You may want to underline it by one size.  In any case, try some lines on it and see what works best for you in the way of line weight…as the rod will probably throw several line sizes…but with a different action etc. Barry

Response:

Some years ago I acquired a South Bend No. 47 split cane rod. It is a nine

feet long, three piece rod in a cotton rod bag, and marked in the ‘old’ line ra0tings as suitable for HCH.C or GBF lines. It came with(and still has) a spare top section.<BR I was hoping someone might be able to give me a little history of the rod, in

particular over what time was it made, and what would be its equivalent modern line ratings. The present management of South Bend was unable to help. Peter, Your rod was made sometime after 1936.  If you could describe the grip and the decal,  I could date it much more acurately for you.  It it has the Comficient Grip, with a gold decal, it was probably made after1939.  If the decal on the grip is a yellow rectangle, the rod was made sometime after WWII. Wes Jordan (of Orvis fame) was the master rod builder at South Bend when your rod was probably made.  He started there in 1926.  The Model Number 47 describes the rods action.  In this case, a stiff or Bass Action.   100 series rod were light action, 300 series rods were considered Dry Fly action.  The HCH refers to a modern DT 7 and GBF is the equivilent of a modern WF8.  The rod sold for around $10.00 to $15.00 depending on when it was made.   A good refference for South Bend Rods is Michael Sinclair’s Bamboo Rod Restoration Handbook and Dick Spur’s and Gloria Jordan’s Wes Jordan – Profile of a Rod Maker.  Gloria Jordan still lives in Manchester Vt and runs a fly shop there. Hope this bit of info helps. Al Manchester NH Still fishing a South Bend 359

Response:

Question:

I will be visiting Colorado in a couple of weeks and was wondering what the runoff situation was.  I am specifically interested in the Colorado and Frasier rivers around Granby.  TIA. Dave Felter

Response:

I will be visiting Colorado in a couple of weeks and was wondering what the runoff situation was.  I am specifically interested in the Colorado and Frasier rivers around Granby.  TIA. Dave Felter

one thing about runoff, well two things…. 1) you can always, always fish no matter how high or muddy and nail nice ones. 2) you can always, always go high enough in altitude to the sources which should be in fine shape. — TimW Halfordian Golfer

Response:

I will be visiting Colorado in a couple of weeks and was wondering what the runoff situation was.  I am specifically interested in the Colorado and Frasier rivers around Granby.  TIA.

The rivers are dropping and clearing.  I think you’ll have good fishing. 2) you can always, always go high enough in altitude to the sources which should be in fine shape.

How heavy does my sink-tip have to be to get my fly down in the snow-field? — -Wayne Trzyna

Response:

I will be visiting Colorado in a couple of weeks and was wondering what the runoff situation was.  I am specifically interested in the Colorado and Frasier rivers around Granby.  TIA. The rivers are dropping and clearing.  I think you’ll have good fishing. 2) you can always, always go high enough in altitude to the sources which should be in fine shape. How heavy does my sink-tip have to be to get my fly down in the snow-field?

then you’re getting too high, Wayne…<g… — TimW Halfordian Golfer

Response:

I will be visiting Colorado in a couple of weeks and was wondering what the runoff situation was.  I am specifically interested in the Colorado and Frasier rivers around Granby.  TIA. Dave Felter

The hydrographs I have seen show the West Slope to be about 10-14 days behind the East Slope for runoff. On the East Slope runoff is only now slowing substantially. My forecast is that it will be another week or two before levelling off to something like normal summer conditions; the west slope should follow by another week or so. Still fishable, though. Ken Clark Ft. Lupton, CO

Response:

Question:

I recently moved to a place where I’ve got some decent smallmouth fishing very close by.  Hooked a few before the cold set in, but I don’t feel like I have a sense of how to fish for them.  This river–the Fox, in northern Illinois–is fairly slow and shallow with

David     I have been flyfishing for Delaware River smallmouth for over thirty years and I am possessed  …. and you can find me wet wading ( I really hate waders) 4 to 5 days a week every week until the  water gets too damn cold to wade  ( ~ first week in October). My experience has been that if it is too cold to wet wade… the smallmouth are too cold to bite… You catch a few  but nothing like in warm water coditions. In fact I have had 60 fish days with the water temp in the mid 80’s during the day fishing the riffle areas…. and wet wading under these conditions is almost like sex. Sometimes you just lay in the rapids on your back and cast or swim /float from rock to rock….. Can’t do that with waders ! My favorite smallmouth fishing is late  May and then late summer when the caddis flies hatch. The smallies lign up in fairly shallow, not too swift water and dimple.. You can no way judge the size of the fish by it’s tiny dimple… You would swear you were trout spotting.. I tie all my own flies and have found the following work the best.  caddis flie imitations work well as well as muddlers but sometimes matching the hatch is necessary. During summer the fish like wooly buggers etc. better , except towards evening then go on top with pencil poppers , snaeky pete types ~ 1 1/2 long ( including tail). I tie my pencil poppers with Maribou tails because they have better action. . give it a go !                                                                            Jody

Response:

David,     I would have to agree with Keith — Wooly Buggers seem to be my all around best producer.  I live between the Missisippi and Rum rivers north of Minneapolis, MN and fish the rivers regularly through the summer and early fall months.  I would add that I’ve had good success in late spring (and again in early fall) with frog patterns fished along the shore during their breeding migration.  Kind of like a midwestern version of splatting hoppers…. Zach

Response:

Dave, I’m on the SW side of the Chicago burbs and fish the Kanakakee a lot. Clousers wna Woolies work well as does a SMALL crayfish pattern.  The Kank is not as flat bottomed as the Fox.  Haven’t fished the Fox much so I can’t really say – when I did I used Clousers and did well.  I, too, have been tying like crazy.  One pattern I use a lot also is a variant of the Thunder Creek series – I tie in an olive saddle hackle or two matuka style before adding the deer tail.  Gives a little more action and works well. Kevin

Response:

Two quick comments: don’t stop tying Muddlers, best smallie fly I’ve ever used; when the weather turns colder, don’t be afraid to use big nymphs around ledges, rocks, weed edges etc. Paul Marriner

Response:

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I recently moved to a place where I’ve got some decent smallmouth fishing very close by.  Hooked a few before the cold set in, but I don’t feel like I have a sense of how to fish for them.  This river–the Fox, in northern Illinois–is fairly slow and shallow with a hard bottom.  The couple of times I was on it early in the fall I was fishing Clouser Minnows, cast across stream into the edge of a riffle, for instance, drifted and then swung, with a little action. Around bridge pilings, etc.  Worked okay, but you never know… I’ve been tying like crazy–too damn cold around here to do anything else–including a variety of muddlers that I plan on trying.  I’m hoping to hear some more from you smallmouth fanatics out there about fav patterns and especially techniques. How about it, you basstards? Cheers, David (freezing my butt section off in the midwest)

David, I fish for smallmouth on the Shenandoah and Potomac Rivers. Smallmouth are often found feeding right alongside trout in this area. They are primarily structure fish, and will hang near undercut banks, deeper pools, near rocks and logs, but move around during the course of the season. Here in Virginia in the spring they’re caught with Wooley Buggers, Clousers, and other streamer patters. They are in the heads of most of the pools with back currents, and they take the fly with an "electric" tug. As the water warms, they tend to cruise to the shallows in search of minnows and other food, then back to the faster water for security. The surface action takes off here in June, and lasts through August and early September. They love poppers, hoppers, damsel flies, terrestrials, and streamers through the summer months, although as the water level here drops and gets clear, they become VERY wary and you may need to lengthen the leader and approach them with stealth. In the fall they tend to get particular, and may go for steamers one day, and the next take nothing but poppers. They often move into tails of pools, hug the banks and hide under rocks and stumps. My favorite pattern for the fall is not a bass fly at all, but the Adams Irrisistable! It’s a killer here, and they seem to love it when they’ve seen one popper too many. They love dries. Once you’ve been bitten by the Smallie bug, it’s too late. They jump like hell and fight like mules. And they don’t stop fighting when you get them out of the water to try and set them free. Because of this I think they’re one of the toughest fish to handle and de-hook. I can’t wait for this cold weather to get out of here. I want to go fishing!!! Keith in Waterford, VA

Response:

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I recently moved to a place where I’ve got some decent smallmouth fishing very close by.  Hooked a few before the cold set in, but I don’t feel like I have a sense of how to fish for them.  This river–the Fox, in northern Illinois–is fairly slow and shallow with a hard bottom.  The couple of times I was on it early in the fall I was fishing Clouser Minnows, cast across stream into the edge of a riffle, for instance, drifted and then swung, with a little action. Around bridge pilings, etc.  Worked okay, but you never know… I’ve been tying like crazy–too damn cold around here to do anything else–including a variety of muddlers that I plan on trying.  I’m hoping to hear some more from you smallmouth fanatics out there about fav patterns and especially techniques.   How about it, you basstards? Cheers, David (freezing my butt section off in the midwest)

Try an off white wooly bugger tied on a size 2 long shank hook. if the fish are shallow don’t use any weight.  If they are deep tie in a little silver thread.  Adding a little green to the tail also works well. Rick.

Response:

I recently moved to a place where I’ve got some decent smallmouth fishing very close by.  Hooked a few before the cold set in, but I don’t feel like I have a sense of how to fish for them.  This river–the Fox, in northern Illinois–is fairly slow and shallow with a hard bottom.  The couple of times I was on it early in the fall I was fishing Clouser Minnows, cast across stream into the edge of a riffle, for instance, drifted and then swung, with a little action. Around bridge pilings, etc.  Worked okay, but you never know… I’ve been tying like crazy–too damn cold around here to do anything else–including a variety of muddlers that I plan on trying.  I’m hoping to hear some more from you smallmouth fanatics out there about fav patterns and especially techniques.   How about it, you basstards? Cheers, David (freezing my butt section off in the midwest)

Response:

Question:

I went fishing for Stripers last Friday on the Sacramento River between Decker Island and Rio Vista.  I didn’t have a boat, so I fished off of the banks using blood worms.  I had a few bites, but didn’t catch any fish. Does anyone have experience fishing the Delta for Stripers from shore? What baits, presentations, locations, tides do you fish, and has fishing been good off of the banks recently?  I drove quite a bit on Friday, and only saw a handful of fisherman fishing from the shores. Thanks, KenP

Response:

It’s really frustrating to fish stripers in the river with a boat, much less off the shore. You’d be better of in the Amercian river. There are more "hole" where the fish stop and concentrate. Some of the fly fishing shop in Sac are good resources to tell you where to go, as fly fishing for stripers is becomming really popular.

Response:

Question:

HELP!!! My wife is insisting on a family vacation this summer to a resort in Durango Colorado. Can anyone suggest places to fly fish nearby? Thanks in advance for your help. Duane

Response:

When in Rome… Be sure to check in with the fine folks at the Durangler fly shop

Response: